Welcome to the LOSRA Website
Like any local community, the policies and decisions shaping the character and future of Lower Sunbury are influenced by a combination of local and national government initiatives, alongside market forces and vested interests operating within these frameworks. As with many areas, Lower Sunbury faces challenges stemming from an aging infrastructure, rapid urban development, increasing traffic congestion, and other pressures that impact both quality of life and the distinctive character of the neighbourhood.
In collaboration with local authorities, other residents’ associations and amenity groups, LOSRA plays a vital role in addressing fundamental issues that affect its members' lives. This organisation not only engages with broader strategic concerns but also focuses on the everyday matters that shape community well-being.
To stay informed, we encourage you to subscribe to our regular e-bulletins via the link at the top left of this page. Your continued support is essential to our efforts, and we urge you to join or renew your membership. Subscriptions for 2026 are now payable at £5 per household. Donations are also welcome.
Charity Dinner and Auction at The Magpie, 31st March
A charity dinner and auction will be held at the Magpie, Thames Street, on 31st March.
The event is being held in aid of the Woking and Sam Beare hospices and should be a great night.
Tickets at £20 will include a 2 course meal.
The lots for the charity auction include:
- a signed football shirt from Alessandro Del Piero
- a home cinema experience for 8 people, with champagne and chocolates
- a 1:14 Lamborghini remote control car (it's quite a big one)
- a travel kit - 7 luxury travel items
- a meal at the the Magpie
- a meal at Indian Zest
- a meal at St. Margaret's Tavern
There will also be lots of smaller prizes for the raffle.
Manor Players Present "Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell" at the RAC 31st March - 2nd April
Ever go to the pub? Don’t we all?
Like the pub atmosphere? Like the landlord? Feel welcome? Of course!
Ever chatted over old times, reminisced with other regulars, regretted things you did or didn't do? Doesn’t everyone?
Ever bellyached about your problems and frustrations? Naturally!
Ever been locked in the pub overnight? Probably not!
Well Jeffrey Bernard, our anti-hero, really was, and spends the time reminiscing about his riotous untidy life-style in a vulgar and witty humorous style.
If it's laughter you’re after, join him in the Coach and Horses at the Riverside Arts Centre, Thames Street, from March 31st to April 2nd.
Share his life and his loves and his friends and see just what a real journalist gets up to and just why he is unwell !
With only one week to go before "Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell" opens, now is the time to secure your tickets for only £10 as otherwise all tickets will be £2 more expensive if purchased on the door.
The best way to purchase tickets is to book on-line. Go to direct to the Manor Players booking system at
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/manorplayers or via their website www.manorplayers.org.
Simple, as you can select your own own seat; and you can pay with your credit card; and therefore no hassle for you.
Alternatively you can email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0777 1458696.
Is Your Dog Microchipped?
Most dog owners will probably already be aware that from 6 April 2016 it will be a legal requirement in England for all dogs, by the age of 8 weeks, to be microchipped and registered with their keepers' contact details.
All keepers, including breeders, must also ensure their dog's microchip contact details continue to be kept up-to-date. Key points that dog owners and breeders should be aware of:
- if an owner changes their details, moves house or changes contact number they must make sure details are updated on the database
- if a dog without a microchip comes to the attention of the authorities, the dog's keeper may be served with a notice requiring the dog to be microchipped within 21 days, and may face prosecution and a £500 fine if they do not comply
- the only exemption from the requirement to microchip a dog is where a vet has certified in writing that the dog is unfit to be microchipped
- anyone breeding dogs will be responsible for microchipping their puppies before they sell or give them to new keepers
Free microchipping is available at some charities including Battersea Dogs Home and The Dogs Trust. Alternatively speak to your local vet.
London Irish Mini Festival 24th April - Advance Warning to Residents
This advance warning is published for the attention of all residents living in roads close to the London Irish Hazelwood grounds off Green Street.
Following the parking problems at the time of last year's London Irish Mini Festival, the Vice-chairman LOSRA met with the Chairman of the Amateur RFC on 18th May 2015 to explore ways of reducing the nuisance of blocked streets and driveways which resulted from inconsiderate parking by visitors to the Festival.
This year’s festival will be held on Sunday 24th April 2016 and the numbers of attendee’s are envisaged to be similar to last year. The busiest time for traffic will be 8am to 10.30am, peaking between 9 - 10am as teams arrive for a 10.am start. The event has a staggered finish from approximately 2pm (age group dependent), with the last games finishing about 4pm.
In his recent email to LOSRA, Eric Griffith, the Chairman LIAFC wrote:
"L. Irish will be putting in place the same level of car parking planning and provision as last year, as well as improvements based on feedback received. Visiting teams will be directed a week before the event to use public transport, car share as much as possible and that parking on local streets in not available, and to use Kempton Park. Please be assured we will do all that is reasonably within our control to manage the traffic flow, direct attendee’s to designated parking at Kempton Park and to use the shuttle service, but we have no legal rights to enforce no parking areas,….we rely on the goodwill, cooperation and common-sense of our visitors."
Having to rely on the 'goodwill, cooperation and common-sense of our visitors' is about as much as can be expected and much will depend on how efficiently the visiting clubs communicate with their individual members. We shall see....
Jason Rebello - Solo Piano at the Riverside Arts Centre, Sunday, 3rd April
"In terms of sheer ability and potential, Jason is probably the finest young jazz musician this country has produced. His playing has great poise and maturity which is unusual in somebody so young." - Stuart Nicholson, author, Jazz: The Modern Resurgence.
Jason emerged in the late 1980s as a jazz pianist influenced by Herbie Hancock and McCoy Tyner. In his early 20s he recorded three solo albums, including A Clearer View (1990), his debut album, which was produced by Wayne Shorter and led to him appearing on the cover of The Wire magazine. Jason also worked with Jean Toussaint, Tommy Smith and Branford Marsalis, and presented Artrageous on BBC television.
Work with Sting and Jeff Beck
In 1998 Sting invited Jason to join his band following the death of Kenny Kirkland. He toured with Sting for the next six years and recorded three albums. He then became a member of Jeff Beck's band, touring for six years and recording three albums. During these years with Sting and Beck, Jason also worked with Chaka Khan, Des'ree, Mica Paris, Carleen Aderson, Manu Katche, Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel.
Return to solo work
In May 2013 Jason told the Huffington Post that after twelve years of touring as a session musician he was now re-establishing himself as a solo artist, specifically in jazz. On 4th November 2013 he released the album Anything but Look on Lyte Records. It features Will Downing, Omar, Joy Rose, Jacob Collier, Tim Garland and Pino Palladino.
Jason also teaches music, lecturing at his alma mater Guildhall School of Music and Bath Spa University, among others.
Jason's performance starts at 7.30pm and tickets may be purchased at the door £12 or, via the website £10: www.moodindigoevents.co.uk
LOSRA Spring Newsletter Out Now
Our Spring Newsletter, currently with the printers, will be delivered to Lower Sunbury households from 16th March.
More...
Going to the Tip? Best Read the Rules!
Further to the article published on this Site on 10th February, the following is a reply email from the Waste Operations Group Manager, Surrey County Council to an email sent by one of our members:
As you will probably be aware , Surrey County Council makes policy and then we ask SITA to implement it and therefore I think your mail is more for me to answer that SITA. SITA's employees are working under the instruction of Surrey County Council in this respect.
Firstly I would like to clarify that Surrey householders may bring their own household waste to the Community Recycling Centre free of charge. There is no restriction on the amount that you can bring or how it is transported. The waste will be accepted whether it is in a car, van or trailer, although residents bringing waste to the site in vans or trailers will need to obtain a permit from the county council. Therefore in the context of your e-mail below, residents may bring as many bags of leaves from their homes as they like as leaves are considered to be household waste. There are however certain types of waste that don’t fall within the definition of household waste. Waste produced by construction and DIY projects in the home including improvements, alterations or repairs and from excavations, are classified as industrial waste and the county council is not obliged to accept these materials free of charge. Examples of these types of waste include kitchen and bathroom fittings, doors, windows, timber, fencing and sheds, rubble, soil, paving slabs and plaster.
Anyone wishing to dispose of these types of materials, whether a householder or a trader, must pay the appropriate charge and this can only be done at a transfer station where facilities exist to weigh the waste and apply the appropriate charge.
To assist the public with small amounts of this type of waste, Surrey County Council has , for the past 20 years, adopted a policy that allows householders to bring small amounts of construction waste in their car, free of charge. Over the past few years the quantity of construction and DIY waste that is brought to our sites has increased significantly, and we have also identified that traders are using large cars to transport this waste to avoid payment. The council can no longer bear the cost of dealing with this waste and in April 2016 we will introduce charges for certain types of construction waste even if brought in a car.
Prior to the introduction of these changes we have tried to better define what constitutes a ‘small’ amount of construction waste in order to make things clearer for both the residents and site staff.
We published information on our website which advised residents that we would consider ‘small’ amounts to be that, which would fit within the boot of a car with the seats up and we asked our contractors staff to communicate this to residents at the recycling centres.
Having listened to our residents we realise that we did not give enough prior notice of this definition before implementation and therefore we have instructed our contractor to relax these restrictions until we have undertaken further communication with our residents. We will provide further information in March 2016 on the charges that will be applied for this type of waste from April.
I hope this clarifies the situation
Regards
Richard
Richard Parkinson
Waste Operations Group Manager, Environment Service, Surrey County Council
Cafe Assistant Wanted at the Embroidery Gallery Cafe
Advertising Positions Vacant is not usually part of this Site's function. However, we are pleased to assist Lower Sunbury's premier local attraction at the Walled Garden which is a registered charity.
Part time assistant wanted for our gallery cafe. Lunchtimes plus some additional hours and occasional weekends. Must be friendly, flexible and hard working.
Call Carole 01932 788101
Survey of Library Users - Please Take a Minute to Complete
The threat to our public libraries has received a great deal of press coverage over the last couple of years. This is not surprising given the constraints placed upon the County Council finances. We have recently been consulted on our bus routes which is certain to result in reduced services within Surrey. The Council is now embarking on a a survey of library users which can be completed online at www.surveymonkey.com/s/surreylibraries
If you or your dependents enjoy the facilities offered by your local library please take a few minutes to respond to the survey. It's only a guess but If it cannot be demonstrated that the service is valued it may be at risk of closure.
Spelthorne and Slough Council Leaders Write to The Times over Heathrow Expansion
The Leaders of Spelthorne Borough Council and Slough Borough Council have sent the following letter to The Times newspaper to express their support for a third runway at Heathrow:
Dear Sir,
Further to the article "Tory councils prepare to sue over Heathrow runway" (3 March 2016), we are writing to you as Leaders of Councils neighbouring the airport that support a third runway.
After three years of expert analysis and at cost of £20m to the taxpayer, the independent Airports Commission made a unanimous and unequivocal recommendation to the Government that Heathrow should be expanded. The Commission looked closely at local environmental impacts and concluded that these could be adequately mitigated.
Following several years of consultation and engagement with local people and Local Authorities, the plans that Heathrow are proposing are radically different to those rejected by the Prime Minister in 2010. The Prime Minister's comments rejecting the original plans at that time are irrelevant to the current proposals.
We are the Leaders of Councils representing tens of thousands of residents who live next to Heathrow, many of whom, as in other surrounding Boroughs, are reliant on the proximity to the airport for work. We will continue to encourage the airport to do more to reduce its impacts but we support the skills, employment and community benefits that Heathrow expansion would bring to our Boroughs.
Yours
Councillor Ian Harvey, Leader, Spelthorne Borough Council
Councillor Rob Anderson, Leader, Slough Borough Council
Proposed Works to Sunbury, Molesey and Teddington Weirs
A number of public drop-in events, including Sunbury on 15th March, are being held by the River Thames Scheme to allow residents to have their say and view options for the weirs. Experts will also be at hand to answer questions.
Calling all Youngsters to the P&G Surrey Youth Games
Are you aged 7-16? Interested in trying a new sport?
Then why not come along to the Team Spelthorne P&G Surrey Youth Games free training sessions.
The P&G Surrey Youth Games, sponsored by Procter & Gamble, is the largest annual youth sports festival in Surrey. The aim of the games is to provide opportunities for young people to try new sports. Over 2000 young people, aged 7 to 16, will experience a competitive, countywide sporting event when they take part in the games on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 June 2016.
In preparation for the competition weekend, Spelthorne Borough Council is holding between 4 and 8 weeks of coaching for each sport, which will begin in April/May. The training sessions are free of charge which offers young people a fantastic opportunity to try a new sport or improve on existing skills. At last year’s Games, Spelthorne coached over 400 children, entered 29 teams and won 10 medals.
There are a wide variety of sports on offer, including badminton, boccia (disability sport), boxing, girls’ cricket, girls’ football, hockey, judo, lacrosse, netball, squash, swimming, table tennis, girls’ touch-rugby, tennis and touch tennis. All sessions will be led by qualified coaches and, from the coaching sessions, teams will be chosen to compete in the games at Surrey Sports Park in Guildford.
To be eligible for Team Spelthorne you must either live or go to school in Spelthorne and if you already play a sport, you must be below county standard.
Full details for the coaching sessions, age ranges and full eligibility can be found on the website. You must register in advance of the sessions which can be done online at www.spelthorne.gov.uk/surreyyouthgames. Bookings open on Wednesday 2 March.
For more information, contact Leisure Services on 01784 446433 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Road Works to Commence at The Avenue/Staines Road East Junction
Local residents at the top of The Avenue have received notices from Buxted Construction advising of significant changes to the layout and architecture of the The Avenue where it meets the junction with Staines Road East.
A first phase of the works will involve moving services which are currently in the way. The second phase will involve moving the kerblines out to accommodate a new lane and a pedestrian refuge, creating a right turn lane for The Avenue. A raised junction and "Keep Clear" space will be provided for The Spinney.
Temporary traffic lights will be installed to enable the works to be carried out and parking on The Avenue near the junction should be avoided if possible.
Not surprisingly, the new layout, which will take 6 - 8 weeks to put in place over the Easter period, is causing consternation to residents in the vicinity and to the local dental practice where restricted parking will impact upon his patients, some of whom are disabled.
The subject has been raised with our local County Councillor, Tim Evans who is currently looking into the matter and LOSRA has advised residents to put a question to the Local Spelthorne Committee which meets on Monday 14th March, 6.30pm at the Council Chamber, Knowle Green.
Tony Kinsey Big Band to Celebrate 10th Anniversary of Embroidery Gallery Opening
One of Sunbury’s biggest musical events of the year is taking place on Friday March 11th when The Tony Kinsey Big Band is giving a concert at which Tony will perform his major work “The Embroidery Suite”. The event is on Friday March 11th at Sunbury Cricket Club, the performance beginning at 8.00 pm.
The event is being promoted by Sunbury Millennium Embroidery, and marks the beginning of the celebrations this year of the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Sunbury Embroidery Gallery in the Walled Garden, Thames Street. The Embroidery Suite was composed by Tony as part of the fund-raising effort to build the Gallery and was originally performed at St. Mary’s Church well over ten years ago.
In addition to the Embroidery Suite, the 16-piece orchestra, plus vocalist, will perform other Tony Kinsey compositions, including two new pieces which will be having their first airing. The concert is being recorded for CD release.
Tickets are £15.00, available from the Embroidery Gallery, which is open from 10am to 4pm every day except Mondays. For a donation of a further £5.00 on top of the ticket prices, you can have your name included as a supporter of the project in the CD booklet.
A long-time Lower Sunbury resident, Tony has been one of the major figures in British jazz for well over 60 years, and is highly respected as a drummer, bandleader and composer, and opportunities to see him performing in our area are relatively rare. This will be a very special occasion, and tickets will be in considerable demand, so you are advised to book in advance.
The Big Band includes some of the top performers in the British jazz scene. See flier by clicking here
